Mystery+Myths

=Mystery Myths= Kasandra Singh Cassie Lawson

Instructional Objective
The instructional objective of this game is to teach students about the structure of myths and their archetypes and symbols and about the cultures and eras in which these myths originated. The game correlates to the following curriculum standards: __//California State Standards: Literary Response and Analysis//__
 * Describe the structural differences of various imaginative forms of literature, including fantasies, fables, myths, legends, and fairy tales.
 * Evaluate the meaning of archetypal patterns and symbols that are found in myth and tradition by using literature from different eras and cultures.

Learners & Context of Use
This game is designed for 4th-6th grade students around 10-12 years of age. Students at this age level greatly enjoy reading about mythology but sometimes have difficulty grasping the concepts of the archetypes and the eras and culture from which the myths originated. To play this game, the player should know the culture of the myth's origin, the background of the myth, the type of archetypes used in the myth and more.

The game is designed to take place in groups of 2-4 people. It can be played within or outside of a school setting. If played in a school, it can be done in small groups or the class can be divided into four groups, with each group controlling one playing piece. Prior to the game, players shuffle the myth packets and randomly choose one. The cards in the packet must be placed in their appropriate locations on the board. After the game, the cards must be placed, face down, back into the appropriate myth packet.

Competing Products
There are only a limited amount of educational board games that deal with the world of Greek and Roman mythology. Two games found are //The Book of Greek Myths Pop-up Board Game// by Tango Books and //Age of Mythology: The Board Game// by Alliance Games Distributors. Mystery Myths is similar to these games in only that the content is based on mythology. The other commercial games are more of a role-playing or battlefield type configuration. Mystery Myths has linear movement with a hint of 2D pattern, as players collect clues as they play. Mystery Myths is less about role playing and more about exercising knowledge of mythology.

**Object of the Game**
The object of the game is to guess what the hidden myth is, based on clues gathered throughout the game.

Content Analysis
See the Mystery Myths Content Analysis page.

Game Materials

 * **Material** || **Description** ||
 * **[|Game Pieces]** || These are simple pawns. The reason for being simplistic pieces is that they are supposed to represent a sort of "everyman" as the players represent mere human being trying to gather knowledge about the gods (myths). ||
 * **Game board** || A picture is given above. ||
 * **Myth Packets** || These are identical, unlabeled packets. Players will randomly shuffle the packets and choose one. Each packet contains all clue cards for one myth. Players will be able to separate types of cards by looking on the back of the cards. ||
 * **Gold Cards** || These cards are in the myth packets and include specific information about the characters, location and weapons involved in the myth. These cards cards can only be drawn by players in Mnt. Olympus. ||
 * **Silver Cards** || These cards are in the myth packets and include generic information, or minor clues. They can be drawn by players in all of the places on the board except Mnt. Olympus. Many of these clues are the same for more than 1 myth. ||
 * **Question Cards** || These cards include questions that the "demi-gods" guarding the locations on the board may ask. They are not myth specific and provide no clues as to which myth is being hidden. They are not located in the packets. ||
 * **Loki's Net Cards** || These are cards a player picks up if they land on a Loki's Net space. ||
 * [|Score Pad][|-] || These are sheets players have to store information. These cards include spaces for writing in characters, locations, weapons, cultural aspects and so on. ||
 * **List of Myths** || This is a list of all of the possible hidden myths. ||
 * **Download Game Materials:** || [[file:Mystery Myths.zip]] ||

Time Required
Game requires only five minutes to set up before play begins. The length of play may last between 15 - 30 minutes. Game play would not require more than one sitting.

The Rules
1. Begin at any of the four Entry points on the board labeled “Start.”

2. Move about on the squares within the game board by rolling one dice and moving that many squares IN THE direction shown on the board. If more than one player lands on a square, they can share the space.

3. If a player lands on a square labeled “Loki’s Trap” they must pick up a “Loki’s Trap” card and follow the instructions on the card. Place card back on the bottom of the pile when done.

4. If a player lands on “Enter” They pick up a Question card and answer the question on the card. If they answer the question correctly, they can enter the Adjoining mythical heaven. Inside the heaven, players will receive one Silver clue card and a Key. Players must collect 4 keys during the game. They can record their clues they receive on their score card.

5. Players must collect 4 keys during the game. If they miss one of the heavens they can continue to go around the board until they have collected Keys from 4 heavens. The heavens have an infinite number of keys so a player can collect from the same heaven twice. However, once a player has exited a heaven, they cannot re-enter the same heaven again before moving on to another heaven.

6. Once a player has collected 4 keys they can immediately go into Loki’s net for their player number (example: Player one enters the area marked “player one” Within the Loki’s Net Area. Inside this area, players choose the “even” space or “Odd” space. Depending on the space they choose, they must roll the dice and either receive an “even” number or “Odd” number. IF they receive the correct type of number they can then choose a Question card. If they answer the question correctly they can enter Mnt. Olympus. If not, they stay in “Loki’s Net.”

7. Inside mnt. Olympus: Mnt. Olympus is the only heaven in which a player can make their guess about the identity of the hidden myth. If they can guess the myth correctly, they win the game. If they cannot guess the myth or are not ready to do so they can receive a “Gold” clue card. Gold Cards can only be collected from Mnt. Olympus. A player can collect one card per turn in mnt. Olympus until they can correctly guess the myth.

8. How do you know you guessed the right myth? A guess is right if: It involves the same characters, place and situation as a myth that is listed in the “List of Myths.” If a player is missing any of this information from the clue cards they cannot make their guess. When making a guess, a player must tell the characters, location and situation they have retrieved (thus giving away their own clues). Therefore, a guess must be made only if a player is certain about their myth. Once you make a guess Check your guess against the clues that other players have. If the clues do not match theirs, the other players must tell this player that they are wrong in their guess but do not need to state why they are wrong. Once it is agreed that the myth is correctly guess, you can double check by opening the myth packet and looking inside, the number of the myth is written on the inside of the packet.*


 * Due to the fact that this is a prototype of the game and not the full game, only a sample of cards from one packet is included. Since this is done online, a packet (and dice) is the only material that cannot be given. To check what the hidden myth is in this prototype game, e-mail either creator and we will let you know the answer.

Motivational Issues
The game engages the learner by challenging him or her to use previously learned material to guess the myth or mythological figure. It makes use of curiosity, challenge, and competition to make the playing experience fun for the players. The game's challenge level will depend on the player's knowledge and exposure to the content. Competition will be heightened with more than one opponent, but competing against another player will bring a sense of excitement and fun. Having explicit goals will add to the appeal and enjoyment of the game (Lepper & Malone, 2001).

Design Process
We originally wanted a game that involved literature or the writing process somehow. After a lengthy dialog, the idea sprouted that the game would be loosely modeled after the board game Clue, and focus on ancient myths. Greek and Roman mythology has been a long-standing favorite of many elementary school students, and what better way to test that knowledge (as well as the myths of other civilizations) than with a crafty board game? We wanted a game that would not be boring and playable more than once. Simplicity seemed best. We gathered information by combing the Internet for similar ideas (and surprisingly, finding few foes) as well as for content information. We received feedback from one of our instructors and used that critique to further our efforts. We made the board clearer and created the score pad sheets. We used Photoshop to create the images presented on this page. Since we did not create a physical, tangible prototype, it is easy to make alterations to any of the pieces. The lessons we learned from this process was to constantly revise and get feedback from outsiders as well as from each other. The division of labor was pretty even, so no one person was left overwhelmed during the project construction.